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The
statement said the necessary steps will be taken for the
subsequent reopening of the Santa Teresa and Columbus border
crossings in New Mexico, without specifying dates.
Despite the ban, the screwworm was detected last month in Texas
and southeastern New Mexico, where more than 30 cases have been
reported to date.
In Mexico, the screwworm outbreak was detected in November 2024
and has spread to 29 of the country’s 32 states. Currently,
there are 1,792 active cases, according to official figures.
The parasite, a larva of the Cochliomyia hominivorax fly,
attacks warm-blooded animals, including humans.
U.S. authorities said imports of Mexican cattle will be subject
to compliance with a joint action plan, and the animals will
undergo inspection in the U.S. to prevent the entry of screwworm
larvae.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said in a message on social
media that she was notified of the measure in a letter sent by
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, adding that Mexico
will accelerate its efforts to be ready to resume the movement
of cattle through Sonora and subsequently through the border
state of Chihuahua, where five cases of screwworm were recently
reported.
Sheinbaum said the measure is an example of “dialogue,
cooperation, and collaboration with mutual respect between
Mexico and the United States.”
Rollins, in the U.S. statement, said it is now safe to reopen
the crossing through Arizona.
The Mexican livestock sector estimates that the suspension led
to multimillion dollar losses.
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